While we focus our business on lesser-known German wine regions, there were two wineries from Rheinhessen that we were keen to establish in North America.
One is Battenfeld-Spanier who, with their Frauenberg GG, makes one of the best Rieslings in the world and our favorite German Pinot Noir, the GG Kirchenstück.
The other is Thörle that we were introduced to after reading about the JS 99 Point rating for their Thörle Spätburgunder Rheinhessen Hölle 2019, that was described as a truly breathtaking pinot noir that’s as concentrated as it is refined. The wine made fourth spot on the JS Top 100 wines of Germany 2021.
We are delighted to bring these two producers to the US and want to share more about them in this post.
Battenfeld Spanier
The dynamic husband-wife team of H. O. Spanier and CarolinSpanier-Gillot is the driving force behind the BattenfeldSpanier Estate. Their “secret sauce” is hidden deep beneath the soil of this outstanding winery located in Rheinhessen, namely layers of lime that add precise, vibrant minerality across the spectrum of their varietals: Riesling, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), and Silvaner. Cellarmaster H. O. has combined the perfectionism developed during an early career in sport with the trust in nature that goes hand-in-hand with the finest wine-making. When applied to organic and bio-dynamic vineyard and winery principles this combination of skill and intuition yields wines crafted almost single-handedly by a rich and unique terroir. The result is the estate’s incomparable Silver-label Riesling and vibrant Spätburgunder and Silvaner.
BattenfeldSpanier has 48,000 acres of holdings near Worms across from Wonnegau, Hohen-Sülzen, and the Zellertal and has been a proud member of the VDP since 2008.
Thörle
Rheinhessen vintners have been at the forefront of winemaking innovation for years and the Thörle winery, situated in Saulheim, is a classic example of a perfectionist approach in the vineyard and winery. Run by brothers Christoph and Johannes Thörle since 2006, the winery was handed down from their parents with viticulture in the family since the 1500s.
The brothers have swiftly homed in on the production of Riesling, Pinot Noir, white Burgundy varieties and Silvaner to the highest standards. In the vineyard, they hand-harvest low yields and vinify with laser-like precision for each varietal in a new spacious state-of-the-art, custom-built winery. The result is a range of unforgettable wines that display the rich mineral character of the surrounding limestone soils.
The drive for perfection in Germany’s highest-producing region, plus homage to centuries of a family’s dedication, are what motivates the two brothers to passionately craft the finest wines today.
To pre-order their wines, please do get in touch!
